Black, Hispanic, and White Women's Perception of Heart Disease

Abstract

Understanding why women delay seeking treatment for symptoms suggestive of an acute myocardial infarction remains elusive. Thirty individual semistructured interviews were conducted to determine black (n=10), Hispanic (n=10), and white (n=10) women's perception of heart disease risk and whether differences existed based on participant's race or ethnicity. Narrative descriptions analyzed using the Morse and Field method revealed that women, regardless of race or ethnicity, associated heart disease and heart attacks with men who were obese, stressed, and smokers. Perceptions of heart disease risk were similar between groups, with women generally believing they were at risk for heart disease because of family history, diet, and obesity. Racial and ethnic differences were noted, however, in risk reduction and anticipated treatment-seeking behaviors. Continued efforts are needed to raise women's perception of their cardiac risks and the need for the engagement in health-promoting behaviors.